Prefabricated building structure



Sept. 27, 1949.

E. J. KUMP, JR

4 Sheets-Sheet l PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 27, 1943 R Q m 1 4. M

\1 -2 a \3 R '3 i I w INVEINTOR. ERNEST I KuMP JR WAFMZ7 Sept. 27, 1949. E. J. K'UMP, JR 2,482,918

PREFABRICA'IED BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 27, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. EPNEST J. Kump Jk.

BY 5 414,, m a M HT VJ'.

Sept. 27, 1949. E. J. KUMP, JR I 2,482,918

' PREFABRICATED BUILDING STRUCTURE Filed Dec. 27, 1943 4 Shee ts-Sheet s IN VEN TOR.

W MYM ERA/31- .I KUIVIP IR.

E. J. KUMP, JR

PREFABR ICATED BUILDING, STRUCTURE Sept. 27, 1949.

Filed Dec. 27, 1943 INVENTOR.

' ERNEST J'. KuMP JR.

BY W", M, @uflu,

ATTORNEYS,

Patented Sept. 27, 1949 1 Application-1;)ecember27, an, serial Nb. 515,761

This invention relates to prefabricate build ing's'or to a building of'tlie .type'iii which t e basic elements, such as the floor, walls'androof, arepre-made ready forassembly without requiriiig, measuring,sawing nailing} bolting, etc., as in a side wall and part of the roof of a building.

the case where said elements are fabricated and assembled in the field." Prefabricated buildings have variously been called demountable, knock-down, portable,- and. other terms, and

insofar as this invention is concerned, any of these terms might be used,l.inasmuch as the strutsture herein described provides for rapid assembly and disassembly of the ste wise and roof with equal. facility and without, mutilation thereof. One of the objectsof this invention is an improved structure in a prefabricated building whereby the floor, walls and roof may bemore quickly-set up and secured together unskilled labor; and by fewer workmen than heretofore, and which assembly in completed form is more complete and neater than other buildings of the same general class. V p I I Another object of the invention is the provision ot a special structure in which double-walled, relatively light panels; are provided, each of which forms an inner and outer side wall and inner and outer roof structure,- and each panel struc-- turally cooperates with a fioorfor being pivoted or swung into its final position without requiring bodily lifting thereof or laboriousfitting of intricate parts. 7 y

Another object of the invention is. the provision of a prefabricated building in which one pair of. spaced rows of detachably connected panels provides a gable roof and opposed side Walls of the building. and which panels in. one row coope crate with the panels in the other row for their proper support and distribution of the strains and stresses. Furthermore the panels of said rows are constructed of relatively light-weight cores enclosed between covering sheets in which thecovering sheets take the major strains and stresses instead of the cores-,- thereby eliminate ing unnecessary weight while having even greater strength than. where reliance is placed on stud ding, rafters, trusses, etc. for taking the stresses and strains of side walls androof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of structure in a prefabricated building. providing better heat and sound insulation that. heretofore Without adding. anything to the time required for assembling thebuilding.

Other objects and advantages willappear in the description andv drawings annexed hereto;

In the drawings,

7 10- Glai-ms. (01. 202) Fig. 1 is a semi-perspective View (partly in sec- I )T showing a portion of an assembled building thatfis' illustrative of'the invention. Fig. 2 1s enlarged" fra mentary pers ective 5 view crops of the panels that forms part of one Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the "Fig. 4; is. a fragmentary perspectiveview of the o-uteiffcorner piece of the panel of Fig; 2.

Fig. 5 is'a fragmentary side elevatioiial view of tlie eave or angle portion of a panel'fthat'difiers slightly :from'the panel of Fig. 2 although the core ribs and outer corner'piece are identical with those shown in Figs.;2.and 41 611's afia ment ry perspectiveview of the e e ribs" manne corner piece ofthe panel of F dinasseriibled relation.

l Fig; 7 'is'f'a'n enlarged fragmentary perspective viewofioneendfof channel strip used for fas tening. panels together, particularly the. roof sections of thepainels' of Fig. 2. j

'Fig. 8. is a; enlarged sectional view taken along .25 a Fig. 9' isan enlarged sectional View taken along Fig 1(lis an enlarged sectional view taken along line lilo of Fig. 1.} a I Fig. l'i'isan enlarged sectional view taken along line l. l. l.l of Fig. 1-,but with the central portions 'ohthe dge pieces omitted.

.;Fig...1.2.is an} enlarged sectional view taken along line; [2-5 12 of Fig. 11L; 7 a

.isav fragmentary perspective view of the-ridge piece and part of the roof section of one panel that is of sound-proofing construction.

Fi-g.'- ;14- is a fragmentary perspective view of a base member of the side wallsection of a panel showin part of the section.

v Fig.. 15. is a fragmen-tary perspective View of part oi a floor panel that isheat insulated.

Fig; 16 is a fragmentary perspective View of partof an end wall panel and side Wall panel atthei-r'ju-ncture, and which panels are sound insulated as well as heat insulated.

Y Fig, 1 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of part: of. the roof section of a panel and part of anend wall panel at their juncture, both panels being sound and heat insulated.

e'Fig. 1-8 is a, fragmentary end-view of the ridge pieces on; the roof sections, said pieces being spaced a-part.

Fig. L9 is an elevational View of the outer exposed side of one of the ridge pieces. 55 fFigl v20 is a fragmentary view, partly in sec- 3 tion and partly in elevation showing one structure for connecting the channel strips that are employed for securing the roof sections and side wall sections respectively of a pair of adjoining panels.

In detail, referring to Fig. 1, the basic elements shown therein comprise floor panels I, side and roof panels 2, and end panels 3. These are generally indicated, inasmuch as they will be individually described more in detail later on, it being pertinent to point out at this time, however, that the side wall and roof panels are each of unitary structure each comprising a roof section 4 anda side wall section 5, the former being shown as ex-' tending half the width of the building from eave to ridge, while the latter extends from eave to lloor.

Roof and side wall panels The structure of one of these panels is best seen in Figs. 1 to 4 and 8 to 10. Figs. 5, 6 show slightly modified structure. The means for securing adjacent panels together is omitted from Figs. 1 to 4 for clarity, but is shown in Figs. 8 to 10.

Each panel 3 has a core or frame that comprises a row of parallel ribs 6. These ribs extend from a ridge piece I to a base member 8. The ridge piece I is cross grooved at 9 (Fig. 13) to receive one of the ends of said ribs, while the base member 8 is cross grooved at I (Fig. 14) to receive the opposite ends of said ribs. These grooves 9, II) also function to facilitate quick and accurate spacing of the opposite ends of the ribs.

Ribs 6 may be constructed substantially along the lines described in my co-pending application for United States Letters Patent No. 495,425, filed July 20, 1943, Patent No. 2,413,145 granted Dec. 24, 1946, if desired, but inasmuch as the major stress strain forces in the present structure is not imposed on the ribs, the latter may each comprise a leg portion I2 and a roof portion I3 in continuation thereof, the two extending at an angle to each other so that when the legs I2 are vertical the portions I3 extend slantingly upwardly but generally horizontally, as seen in Fig. 1. The roof and leg portions may be glued together at their juncture along line I4, this juncture bein at the eave part of the roof.

An inner corner strip I5 that is cross grooved at I5 for receiving similar inner-edges of portions I2, I3 at their adjoining ends, spaces the ribs at the angle produced at the juncture of portions I2, I3 and an outer corner piece I'l cross grooved at I9 for also receiving the portions I2, I3 is spaced outwardly of the strip I5 but is parallel thereto. The outer corners of ribs 6 at the junctures of portions I2, I3 of said ribs are preferably cut off at an angle to provide straight edges I8 that fit in grooves I9 of piece I1. Piece I1 is triangular in cross sectional contour with grooves I9 in one side, and the other two sides respectively, transversely of the piece, are continuations of the outer longitudinal edges of the leg portions and roof portions of each rib 6.

The corner strip I5 is also generally triangular in cross sectional contour and as it constitutes the inner corner inside the angle formed by portions I2, IS, the grooves l6 are in two of the adjacent sides while the third side 20 is concavely curved transversely of the strip. The concavely curved side 20 faces inwardly and downwardly away from the inside of the angle formed by portions I2, I3 of ribs 6.

The end grooves I6 in corner strip I 5 and in the outer corner piece H might be more accurate- I 1y described as being rabbets, since they are only one sided so that the outermost side of each rib in the row connected to each corner strip and corner piece will be flush with the outer ends thereof. The adjoining ends of portions I2, I3 of rib B are preferably glued in the grooves in strip I5 and in piece I1, and the opposite ends of the ribs 8 are preferably glued in grooves 9, Ill respectively formed in ridge piece land base member 8.

Any number of ribs may be secured in a row in each panel 2 dependent upon the spacing of the ribs and the length of the ridge and base pieces, and the corner elements I5, ll being preferably of the same length. As an example, for ribs in which the leg portions are about 7 feet long and the roof portions are about the same length, there may be four ribs to each panel 2. These, if of wood, may be abut three-quarters of an inch thick. The leg and roof portion of each rib may taper in width from about 4 inches at their ad-. joining ends to about 2 inches at their outer ends The ribs are arranged with the flat sides of adjacent pairs in opposed, parallel relationship and with their inner and outer edges in coplanar relationship. The designation inner edges refers to the edges that are on the inside of the corner formed by the portions I2, I3 whereas the outer edges are those on the outside of such corner. Furthermore, when the building is constructed, as will be later described, the outside edges of the ribs will support the outer side of each panel 2 that is outwardly relative to the inside of the room or building, whereas the inner side of each said panel will face into the room, the side walls of which are defined by part of each panel 2.

The outer edges of the ribs 6 are covered by relatively rigid sheets 24, 25, the sheet 24 covering the outer edges of roof portions i3 of said legs, whereas sheet 25 covers the outer edges of leg portions I2. The sheets 24, 25 are preferably glued to the ribs and to each other along their adjacent edges at the outer corner of the outer corner piece I1, and are likewise glued along their adjacent edges to said corner piece.

The inner edges of ribs 6 are covered by relatively rigid sheets 26, 21 that are glued to said ribs, and these sheets may be halves of the same sheet that is steamed for bending across the concave side 20 of inner corner piece i 5, and that is glued to said concave side. Sheet 26 covers the underside of roof section 4 while sheet .21 covers the inner side of side wall section 5.

The core ribs 6 may be apertured at 28 for ventilation, except the end rib of the panel that is to be at either end wall of the building, which latter rib is preferably imperforate, as seen in Fig. 2, the said panel in Fig. 2 being one of the end panels shown in Fig. 1 as next to the end wall of the building. The adjoining ribs in adjacent pairs of panels have their apertures 28 in registration with each other. Cross pieces 29 (Fig. 2) may be provided between the adjacent pairs of ribs in each panel 2 for supporting the sheets 24 to 21 and to which said sheets are secured. These cross pieces may also be apertured as at 30.

From the foregoing, it is seen that when the side wall section 5 of the panel 2 is vertical, the roof section 4 of said panel will extend slantingly upwardly, and inner sheets 29, 27 will be under compressive stress while outer sheets 24, 25 will be under opposite strain. This assumes no support for the panel at the ridge piece. However, when a pair of said panels 2 are positioned with their side wall sections vertical and with continuous'rather' than where they are merely spaced clips.

1 The adjacent edges of the roof sections of the panels correspond with that of the side wall sections, and closure strips identical with the strips 53 of the side wall sectionsclose thev cracks along the adjoining panels on the undersides of the roof sections.

In Figs. 5, 6, a slight modification in the corner construction of the panels 2 is illustrated. The same members are employed Where the structure is identical with that of Figs..2 to 4.

In the modified form, an inner corner piece 55 is provided that has a concave inner surface 56 the same as for strip [5, but this strip is rabbeted at 51. along the side edges of the curved portion, and the edges of the inner covering sheets 58, 59 that respectively correspond with sheets 25, 21 terminate at their adjacent edges .in said rabbets (Fig. whereas in the form shown in Fig. 2 the sheets 2%, 21 are continuous across the inner side of the inner corner strip. This structure may be adopted where it is not feasible to steam and bend inner covering sheets of the panels 2.

' Also in Fig. 5 the outer roof covering sheet 60 is extended to provide an outwardly projecting eave SI, and an eave strip 62 is provided below said eave. Glue is preferably used in all instances for securin the covering sheets to the corner strips or pieces and to the core.

.It is obvious, of course, that the outer covering sheets of each panel may be continuous and that the outer corner piece may be convexly curved on its outer side for defining a curve over which such outer sheet could be bent after steaming. However, in the claims where the terms integral or integrally are used with respect to the coverings for the panels 2, it is intended to refer to inseparable structure such as would be provided for by gluing pieces together, thereby making them virtually one piece.

Floor panels The floor panels I may each be of the same width'as the width of the panels 2 (Fig. 1) and panels I may be of a length to extend from side to side of the building or they may be in sections.

In any event, said floor panels comprise parallel, spaced core'ribs t5 fitted at their ends in transverse, spaced grooves 56 in end pieces 51 (Fig. .15). The endgrooves in pieces 61 are vir-v tually rabbets the same as were provided'in ridge pieces l for ribs 6.

An upper coverin sheet 68 as of plywood or, any other suitablerelatively rigid materiahoovers to be next to similar panels, said strips bearing the same numbersas those on panels 2, while connecting channels generally designated 13 are identical with the channelstrips 48. In the case of the floor panels, the'angle strips 12 may be adjacent both sides of the panels for connection by channel strips ls-at bothsides, thus eliminating coverin strips 53 such Fig. 10.

.The end pieces 61 of the floor panelsmay each be formed on their outer sides with a groove 14 that extends longitudinally thereof, and which groove is adapted to receive therein one of the strips 31provided on the inner side of each strip 36 that is integral or glued to each base member 8 on each side wall section 5 of each panel 2. Cross members parallel with end pieces 6'! may be secured at spaced intervals between ribs 65, and any suitable floor girders 15 on foundation elements 18 which may support the floor panels in horizontal position.

Secured to the floor panels over each of the end pieces 61 is a strip 16 (Figs. 8, 1.5) that is adapted to pivotally fit in the groove 39 below each member 8 on the panels 2, so that the panels 2 can be swung from dot-dash positions 2' (Fig. 1) to the full line positions with ridge pieces I together.

as are shown in End panels The end panels 3 are of similar cross-sectional contour around all of the outer edges where the latter extend along the floor, side Wall, and roof that are formed by panels l, 2. Where, as in Fig. 1, two end panels are provided for each end of the building, these are connected along their adjacent sides in identically the same manner as adjacent panels 2 along one side or the other of the building are connected. Each end panel comprises a core frame having a base member 89 (Fig. 15) and a head member 8| (Fig. 17) and a vertical side member 82 (Fig. 16) the latter extending between one of the corresponding ends of the base and head members. Parallel with each of these members and along one side thereof is a strip 84 that extends outwardly (relative to the center of the panel) in the same manner that strip 36 on each panel 2 extends outwardly of the main body of the latter. Thus the outer surface of each member 88 to 82 inclusive, and the side of each strip 84 adjacent thereto provides a right angle contour like a rabbet, whereby each of said members provides a ledge for respectively being positioned to overlie the marginal portion of the floor panel I, and the roof section 4 and side wall section 5 of one of the'end panels 2, while the strips 84 extend over the edges of said floor panel and said roof and side wall sections in the same manner as strips 36 extend over the edges of the floor panels.

The strips 84 are recessed on their outer sides to receive the marginal portions along three of the edges of the outer covering sheet 85 of the end panel, while the members to 82 inclusive, are respectively rabbeted for receiving the corresponding edges of an inner covering sheet 86. These sheets or coverings may be of any relatively rigid material, such as plywood, and said sheets are glued to the members 80 to 82 and to strips 84, and strips 84 are respectively glued to the particular member that is adjacent each such strip.

Ribs 85 parallel with the side member 82 extend between the base and head members 80, 8|, the latter being preferably grooved .to receive the ends of said ribs, and where two or more panels are used to complete one end of the building, as in Fig. 1, an end rib identical with any rib 85 is at the adjacent edges of each adjacent pair of said panels, and such adjacent ribs respectively, carry angle strips identical with thestrips of Fig. 10 that are connected with a channel strip iden- (Fig. 1) identical with the strips 52 that cover'tiie cracks hetween panels .2 inside the building are provided .for panels 3. The structure or adjacent edges of an adjacent pair of end channels is not shown since it would be identical with the structure shown in Fig. 10.

The structure shown in detail inF-ig. 12 is identical for that along the floor panel or roof section 1 the panel ,2, and the .-means rer connecting the side wall section of panel :2, as shown in 12, with the end panel 3 is identical with the :means for connecting the roof section of panel c with the end panel, or for connecting the end panel v3 with the floor panel.

This connecting means, as shown in Fi 12, apmprisfis angle strips, generally designated :80, that are identical with theang-le strips lief Fi ,9. One of said angle strips isthe strip 45 that is secured to the and rib .5 of eachend panel i and the strip that is secured to the-end :rib 65st each end floor panel -I. The other strips are carried by each end panel 3 .and are respectively secured to each strip 84 and when :each end panel 3 is slipped into place, the strips on the panels 1, 2 will be opposed to the strips on the panel .3.

The outeredgesof strips-84 are rabbeted to receive the connecting channel strips generally designated 9| (Fig. 1.2) and the outer panel covering sheets 24, .25, (i9 are .cut away along the end ribs that are adjacent panel 3 whereby the channel strips :91 can readily engage the legs Of the angle strips ,90 in the same manner as has already been described wi h re pect to the adjacent panels 2., .or floor panels I.

If desired, a strip B L-may be secured to each panel 3 along its upper edge ,(Eig. 17

The inner sheets 86 of the end-panels may he perforated as indicated at 42 .(Figs. 1,6 17 for sound proofing structure if desired, and an insulation material 95 .(Fig. 16) may be held be tween the sheets .85, 36 either .for sound proofing or for heat insulation, or for both.

Erection of building In operation, the floor panels I may first be positioned on girders and connected together by strips 13 after which-one or hoth rows panels 2 may be positioned on the floor with the groove 39 below .each base member over the strip l-lontlre floor panel (Fig. .8). After it is optional ii the operator shall connect the adjacent panels of each row by strips 48, or if .each pair of opposite panels 2 at opposite sides of the ,lloor shall he swung about strips .11 to meeting relation of ridge pieces '1. In most instances several adjacent panels along the opposite sides of the building are connected by strips .48 before erection, thus providing agroup of a similar number of panels at opp site sides of the'building tha can-beswun from .positionsi (-Fig. l) to if-ulzl line positions as units.

In swinging the p nels 1 upwardly alon th lines indicated by the arrows (Fig. 1) :it will be seen that the ribs .31 on strips 36 will automatically swing into the reces es or gr oves 114 in end pieces 61 of floor panels J. is --enough spring in the panels 22 to permit the ridge pieces 1 to clear each other in being moved to meeting relation with the aligning strips 43 (Fig.8. t8, .19) in the grooves 44. Thus even :one workman can swing one or several panels 2 along one side of a building to the desired position with the side wall sections .5 vertical. and then prop such "MSHIQ ISidQOf the building into place and connects ridge pieces.

After the panels 2 along Opposite sides of the building are up, one or more connecting =channel strips 48 may be slipped-over the legsof the angle strips that are respectively carried by the ridge pieces, and any disconnected pairs of adjacent panels can be similarly connected by such channel strips. Conventional non-drying mastic can he :used wherever it is thought desirable to insure against possible leakage at any joint or splice.

After the panels :2 are in place, as above described the 16:11-61 panels maybe positioned the open ends of the building andconnected to the end panels 2 by the channel strips ill (Fig. 12) that extend along b0t-h the roof sections :3 and the side wall sections of said end panel. Windows and doors maybe providedon or in the desired panels, which is not part of the invention herein d-isclosed.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the end wall panels are telescopically fitted in the ends of thezbuilding, and the strips .84 cover the end edges of the outer sheet '85 of each .end panel as well as covering the end edges 0f the panelsl and of the floor panels I. Also the strips 36 on the panels .2 cover theend edges of sheets '25 and the edges of the floor panels 1 (Fig. 8).

Each panel that goes into making up the roof side walls, end walls and fiOQIzOf the buildin is a double walled panel that in itself forms an inner and outer wall, either or both of which may be left as they are or painted or covered with any desired covering material should the builder wish to do .so. Where insulation material is between the inner .andouter sheets of each panel, the same is held by the sheets and ribs each panel for handling of the panels in exactly the same manner as though the panels'were merely insulated by the air space between the covering sheets. thermore, such space in each panel provides for concealing of wires, pipes, heaters, etc. One of the most desirable characteristics of each panel is its lightness and extreme rigidity and their manner of fabrication makes -,their production cheap and accurate.

While wood is shown :as the main material used, it is obvious that metal may be employed for certain parts, such as the ribs or covering sheets, or both, with suitable means for securing them together, .such as welding where metal to metal connections are made. The use of plywood for the covering sheets and of wood for the core frames or the panels has been found to be highly satisfactory, and where difil'cul-ty in obtaining proper plywood for the outside sheets has been encountered, the ordinary plywood covered with roofing Daperor composition sheet material can be used.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. .In apreiabricated building, a floor, a pair of separable rigid panels of similar shape and size each comprising a roof section and a side wall section integrally secured together and extending at an angle to each other with the outer edges of said roof sections that are remote from said side wall sections in meeting relation over .said floor and with the said side wall sections supported in substantially-vertical spaced opposed relation on said floor along two opposite edges of the latter, the side wall sect-ion and roof section of each panel being part of the roofiand part of the opposite side walls respectively of such buiding, complementarily formed elements respectively secured to said floor along .each of said opposite p nels up while he the pane-1s at the-l p edges thereof andto the lower :edges of saidside wall sections providing a weather and insect seal between said iloor and said lower edges and pivotally supporting the latter for swinging from positions slantingly extending over said floor with said meeting edges of said roof sections disengaged, to said vertical positions with said edges of said roof sections in said meeting relation, and means for securing said roof sections in said meeting relationship.

2. In a prefabricated building, a floor, a pair of separable rigid panels of similar shape and size each comprising a roof section and a side wall section integrally secured together and extending at an angle to each other with the outer edges of said roof sections that are remote from said side wall sections in meeting relation over said floor and with the said side wall sections supported in substantially vertical spaced opposed relation on said floor along two opposite edges of the latter, the side wall section and roof section of each panel being part of the roof and part of the opposite side walls respectively of such building, ccmplementarily formed elements respectively secured to said floor along each of said opposite edges thereof and to the lower edges of said side wall sections providing a weather and insect seal between said floor and said lower edges and pivotally supporting the latter for swinging from positions slantingly extending over said floor with said meeting edges of said roof sections disengaged, to said vertical positions with said edges of said roof sections in said meeting relation, and means for securing said roof sections in said meeting relationship, and means on said side wall sections extending over the said edges of said floor.

3. In a prefabricated building, a panel comprising a roof section and a side wall section extending angularly relative to each other and secured together for handling as a unit in erecting the building, a floor panel, a strip secured on said floor panel along one of its edges in engagement with the lower edge of said side wall section for securing said side wall section against lateral shifting on said floor panel, an extension on said side wall section projecting downwardly therefrom across the edge of said floor panel adjacent said side wall section, and means on said extension in interlocking engagement with said floor panel for securing said side wall section to said floor panel against vertical movement of said section away from said floor panel said means being rigid withsaid extension and releasable from said floor panel upon swinging the upper end of said side wall section inwardly about its lower edge to a position extending over said floor panel.

4. In a prefabricated building of the character described, a pair of horizontal rows of separable rigid panels, the panels of said rows being supported at one of their edges on said floor along two opposite edges of the latter with their opposide edges in substantially abutting relation centrally above said floor, separate ridge pieces respectively secured to each of said panels at their said opposite edges, the ridge pieces on the panels of one of said rows being horizontal and in axial alignment and the ridge pieces on the panels of the other row also being in axial alignment and parallel with the ridge pieces of the first mentioned row and in engagement with the latter pieces, means for securing the ridge pieces on adjacent panels in each row and on the panels in opposite rows of said pair together, means pivotally supporting said panels on said floor and for swinging of said panels of said pair of rows to positions with the said ridge pieces on one row in engagement with the ridge pieces on the other row.

5. In a prefabricated building of the character described a pair of panels each formed with a vertically extending side wall section and a roof section integral therewith extending slantingly upwardly from the upper end of the'side wall section, theuppermost edges of said roof sections being substantially in meeting relationship and the side wall sections being in opposed relationship, a single rectangular floor panel extending between the lower edges of said side wall sections and supporting said pair of panels thereon, said floor panel including means rigid therewith for engaging the lower ends of said sidewall sections to hold said lower ends on said floor panel against the tendency of said lower ends to move away from each other whereby said floor panel functions as a combined tie' rod and support for the lower ends of said side wall sections.

6. In a prefabricated buildingof the character described a pair of panels each formed with a vertically extending side wall section and a roof section integral therewith extending slantingly upwardly from the upper end of the side wall section,the uppermost edges of said roof sections being substantially in meeting relationship and the sidewall sections being in opposed relationship, a single rectangular floor panel extending between the lower edges of said side wall sections and supporting said pair of panels thereon, said floor panel including means rigid therewith for engaging the lower ends of said side wall sections to hold said lower ends on said floor panel against the tendency of said lower ends to move away from each other whereby said floor panel functions as a combined tie rod and support for the lower ends of said side Wall sections, the free opp osite lateral edges of the panels of said pair and two of the opposite edges of said .fioor panel terminatingin a pair of parallel vertical planes to enable the positioning of a similar set of panels along either of said edges for forming a continuation of said floor panel-coplanar therewith and a continuation of the side wall and roof sections of said pair of panels respectively coplanar with each of said sections.

7. A prefabricated building comprising a plurality'of corresponding segments arranged in a a, row, each'of said segments comprising a pair of panels, each panel being formed with a vertically extending side wall section and a roof section integral therewith extending slantingly upwardly from the upper end of the side wall section and each segment further comprising a single floor panel on which the lower ends of the side wall sections of said pair of panels are supported, means rigid on the floor panel of each segment engaging the lower ends of the pair of panels supported thereon for holding said lower ends against movement apart whereby said floor panels function as a combined support and tie rod for the panels supported thereon, the free lateral adjacent edges of the panels of each segment being substantially in'meeting engagement and means along said edges for removably securing the panels of said segments together.

8. In a prefabricated building, a panel com prising a generally horizontally extending roof section and a vertically extending side wall section rigidly secured together for handling as a unit in erecting a building, a floor, a strip separate from said side wall section secured on top of said floor along one of the edges of the latter, the lower edge of said side wall section being formed with a downwardly opening channel receiving said strip therein for swinging of said side wall section about said strip from a position extending over said floor with the said roof section engaging said floor to a position with said side wall section extending vertically, one side of said channel extending downwardl and across the edges of said floor adjacent thereto.

9. In a prefabricated building, a panel comprising a flat horizontally extending roof section and a fiat vertically extending side wall section rigidly secured together for handling as a unit in erecting the building, a floor, means secured to said floor along one of its edges in pivotal engagement with the lowermost edge of said side wall section for swinging of said side wall section thereabout from an inclined position of said side wall section to its vertically extending position, said side wall section being free from securement to said means for removal from the latter when said side wall section is in said inclined position, and means respectively connected with said side wall section and said floor automatically movable into interlocking relationship for locking said side wall section to said floor section against vertical movement of said side 7 wall section from said floor upon movement of said side wall panel to said vertical position.

10. In a prefabricated building, a floor, a pair of separable rigid panels of similar shape and size each comprising a roof section and a side 4 wall section integrally secured together and extending at an angle to each other with the outer edges of said roof sections in meeting relation over said floor and with said side wall sections supported in substantially vertical spaced opposed relation on said floor, the side wall section and roof section of each panel being part of the roof and part of a side wall of such building, a downwardly opening channel strip extending longitudinally of the meeting edges of said roof section open at one of its ends and having its transverse width extending transversely across said meeting edges, separate means respectively rigid with REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file or this patent:

V UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,032,284 Holland July 9, 1912 1,345,164 Garner July 29, 1920 1,554,180 Trader Sept. 15, 1925 1,738,842 Ray Dec. 10, 1929 2,031,568 Mason Feb. 18, 1936 2,167,557 Stout July 25, 1939 2,177,393 Parkinson Oct. 24, 1939 2,185,532 Waterman et a1 Jan. 2, 1940 2,214,886 McKeon Sept. 17, 1940 2,218,465 Gunnison Oct. 15, 1940 2,221,067 Wilson Nov. 12, 1940 2,272,227 Thomas Feb. 10, 1942 2,280,687 Connelly Apr. 21, 1942 2,288,193 Horn et a1 June 30, 1942 2,288,104 Pasquier June 30, 1942 2,332,052 Brent Oct. 19, 1942 2,351,209 Hobbs June 13, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 113,376 Great Britain May 3, 1917 513,372 France 1921 304,069 Great Britain 1929 711,894 France 1931 

